Empty: Definitely
but if it has to make this flight it has to be on full fuel and no cargo , in other words, SEVERE weight restrictions...However, I've heard that tail winds in that area, esp. Bay of Bengal has been very strong and B744s go up to 1180km/h...

The point of origin was Coconut Island - IATA code CNC. The plane came in empty to pick pax from MLA to VIE who came to MLA as incentive travellers on a LAUDA 767 three days ago. The flight number, if I remember correctly, was OS 139.

But this makes more sense. I think there is an error on the web site. What's strange is that on the Malta International Airport web site it showed that the plane was inbound from Coconut Island, which is near Australia.

Can anyone confirm this:
An Austrian Airlines A330 did a flight from Chariton Muni, Iowa via Malta to Vienna?
This is very strange, I never heard of a flight like that.
What the heck is going on in Chariton Muni / Iowa that justifies a widebodied Jet from Austria there???

CNC is the IATA code for Coconut Island
CNC is the FAA code for Chariton Muni

There are so many airprts in the USA that there aren't enough IATA 3 letter designators, so the FAA have issued some duplicate codes for smaller US airports where there is little possibility of confusion whith airports outside the USA, ie airports which never or very rarely see international service.

Officially the IATA codes take precedence, but some US based listings will list the FAA airport, for obvious reasons.

I know it doesn't help the reasons why the Austrian A330 was flying such a flight, but it does at least explain the confusion!

In fact Tadex is right. I have found out today that the Austrian A332 did not arrive in MLA from CNC but from VIE. This confusion was caused by the Malta International Airport web site saying that the flight was from CNC. So I guess this matter is now solved.